Wailua Falls is perhaps one of the more scenic waterfalls to be seen on the Hana Highway. It was a satisfyingly tall (approximately 95ft) roadside waterfall with draping tropical foliage surrounding it. I had a fun time taking long exposure photographs with a tripod as we found it to be very photo friendly.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who thought this way as we witnessed traffic jams on a couple of our visits here. Indeed, I thought this was one of those waterfalls where you were practically guaranteed to stop for it (especially if you hadn’t seen it before).

Like most waterfalls in Hawaii, rain feeds it. So its flow is highly dependent on how much time has passed since the last episode of significant rain. I can totally envision this waterfall having disappointingly low flow towards the late Summer. I witnessed how quickly the falls can diminish that time of year just two days after heavy rains had revived it.

Though the best view of Wailua Falls is from the bridge neighboring the elongated pullouts turned car park, the short path on the Hana side of the bridge got us closer to the falls. Strangely, given its name, Wailua Falls is on Honolewa Stream rather than the Wailua Stream (one drainage further east). I’m not sure if the Topo maps were incorrect (wouldn’t be the first time) or if the falls was misnamed and it stuck.